Over the course of the past month, city employees have been doing their part to raise funds and awareness for the March of Dimes. Those efforts were culminated this weekend with the benefit basketball game between the police and fire departments. But there was plenty of fun and games leading up to the rivalry.

Friday afternoon, Shawn Geurin, Director of Public Utilities, and Jaime Watts, Human Resources Director, each took a pie in the face courtesy of Ken Grace, Carter County Sheriff. That event and others helped raise over $2,500 prior to the basketball game.

"I'm proud of our employees for their efforts to come up with these events," J.D. Spohn, City Manager, said. "They donated a lot of time and I appreciate their efforts in supporting a good cause."

Geurin and Watts each received a pie in the face after collecting the most votes from city employees. Employees could vote for a senior staff member to receive the honor with votes each costing $2. The city also had a hot dog lunch at the pollution control facility and a duck race with a cost of $5 to participate. Sissy Burge, through sheer determination, willed her plastic duck to victory and in doing so, was awarded an OU gift basket.

"What's sad was I didn't know I won," Burge said. "I can't say I had any experience, it was just beginner's luck.

"I really thought they were tricking me because they told Jessica Scott she won but then they called her back and told me I won. J.D. is already bugging me for the picture but I will give the candy to Jessica as a consolation prize."

Employees also took part in bake sales, a bicycle rally and purchased the right to wear blue jeans for babies. The pie in the face event proved to be a highlight as seven pounds of chocolate pudding and four containers of whipped cream were divided into two pies. Geurin went first and was followed by Watts, who displayed some fancy footwork before being corralled for her big moment.

"It was very successful," Carol Anderson, Pollution Control Facility, Superintendent, said. "We hope to make it to an annual event. We had a lot of participants and they had a blast with it. And it was for a good cause."